Swansea University's College of Science are this week hosting Year 11 and 12 students from schools and colleges throughout South Wales at the S4 Summer School.

S4 (Swansea University Science for Schools Scheme), a Welsh Government-funded outreach programme, sees students spending a week on campus taking part in science workshops.

Students spend the week in workshops such as ‘Robotics with LEGO’ (Computer Science department), ‘Hunting for exoplanets’ (Physics), ’Myth-busting climate change’ (Geography) and ‘Animal adaptations’ (Bioscience). By staying in the Halls of Residence, students are also immersed in campus life and get the full ‘student experience’.

S4 is particularly targeted at pupils from Communities First areas, those receiving Education Maintenance Allowance/free school meals, and pupils who are being educated outside of traditional school environments.

Participants in the S4 programme are eligible for a College of Science Inclusivity Scholarship (£500), should they go on to study at Swansea University on any College of Science degree programme.

Previous S4 schools have been a huge success, with over 80% of former S4 students going on to apply to study science subjects at university . Our participants have the following to say about the programme:

- “I always hated physics, but I really liked the physics professor who talked about exoplanets, especially because he gave me advice on Uni’s and we got to build the experiment ourselves.”

- “I have done Geography since GCSE, but wasn’t sure about continuing to A2. This climate change day made me realise the difference in Uni teaching. I’m definitely going to consider Geography as a degree subject now.”

- “All the experiments were amazing, but I really loved talking to your ambassadors about their PhDs and imagining my life as a scientist like them. They were all so passionate, and didn’t mind us asking thousands of questions!”